Agrium Announces Senior Leadership Retirement And Appointments

Agrium has announced Richard Gearheard, Senior Vice President Agrium and President Retail, will be retiring effective March 31, 2014. He has been instrumental in the significant success and growth of Agrium’s Retail business unit and has been with Agrium and its predecessor companies for over 40 years. Under Gearheard’s leadership, Agrium’s Retail business has grown from a small U.S.-based retail company generating $50-million in EBITDA in 1996 to an international retail business that is now the largest global direct-to-grower distributor of crop nutrients, agricultural crop protection products and seed generating close to $1-billion in EBITDA.

“On behalf of all of Agrium, I want to thank Richard for his tremendous contribution in building Agrium Retail into the leading agricultural retailer in the U.S. and globally. Richard is well known and broadly respected in the agriculture community for his business knowledge, humor and focus on people,” said Chuck Magro, Agrium’s President and CEO.

Steve Dyer, Agrium’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), has been appointed to replace Gearheard as Executive Vice President and President of Retail. Dyer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his latest appointment. He has held a broad range of positions in his 23-year career at Agrium including financial, distribution, Retail, business development, IT, and Wholesale manufacturing. Prior to his current role as Agrium’s CFO, Dyer was West Region Manager for Crop Production Services (CPS). The Western Region of CPS has more than 130 retail farm branches and annual sales of over $1.5-billion.

Tom Warner, VP Distribution for CPS has been appointed President, North America Retail and will report to Steve Dyer. In his new role, Warner will have responsibility for all of CPS’s business throughout North America. He will act as interim President of Retail from April 1, 2014 until such time that Dyer’s replacement as CFO is appointed.

Jeff Tarsi, Senior Director Business Strategy for CPS has been appointed VP Retail International, reporting to Dyer. In addition, to his Retail business strategy duties, Tarsi will also now have responsibility for Retail’s businesses outside of North America.

“I am very pleased that Steve has accepted the position as Executive Vice President and President of Retail. He brings to this role impressive agri-business experience and a strong background in distribution and retail. I would also like to welcome Tom and Jeff to their new roles and responsibilities,” added Magro.

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